Sunday, 26 April 2015

How cute are these? I've made similar jeans before and I decided it was time to revisit this pattern. It's the Basic Pocket Pants from Growing Up Sew Liberated, with a few modifications.

I've used knit fabric instead of bias tape for the pocket bindings. I omitted the cuffs and just hemmed the legs. I added 1/4" to the crotch seam line and did a flat fell seam. And finally, I added a pocket to the back.

These back pockets are definitely the best bit.

Yes that's a ninja peeking out, in case you were wondering.

I love the contrast stitching, which looks great on the outside and also holds the seam allowances down for an 'itch-free finish'.

This is going to be the summer of the panda clothes for little cub! I was going to get him to model the outfit today but the weather has been terrible so there was no opportunity to take pictures. Never mind- he'll be wearing these plenty!

Friday, 24 April 2015

The pattern is the Kudzu coverall by Sew Like My Mom. I've made a few changes this time: firstly I've given it a panda face! I drew a new pattern piece for the bodice, to give it rounded ears, and I added interfacing to the ears so they wouldn't flop over. For the face, I used the owl eyes and raccoon nose from the pattern.

The face fabric is plush/minky, and when little cub first saw it he gave a delighted yell of 'panda clothes!', then proceeded to give it a big cuddle.

The bodice seemed very tight around the arms so I added an inch to the straps and took it off the length of the body bit of the trousers.

I made these as shorts instead of trousers. When I made the trouser version here the trousers came super wide and straight, and I wasn't keen on that aspect of the pattern. But they do work well as shorts!

Other people's photos of their kids modelling clothes are always so good. I try, I really do (I even bribed him with sweets) but look what I have to work with. Honestly, I'm lucky to get any photos at all. Sometimes I don't know why I bother...

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

I've been making a lot of stuff lately, but haven't been writing about it. Mostly because I never get round to taking any photos. But I'm going to make more of an effort! Though I can't pretend these photos are flattering, but I don't particularly care.

This is the Penny Pinafore by Kitschy Coo and it's a brilliant pattern. The stars was my first attempt, and the fabric is from Myfabrics. It think I've mentioned them before and I highly recommend the site: they have a vast range of all types of fabric, which ships from Germany (free shipping on orders over £40!) and typically arrives in 4-5 days or so. The website says they have Europe's widest range of fabrics online, and I can well believe it.

I figured the fit would be the same as the lady skater dress so I cut a size 5 and added 5cm to the bodice length. And it fitted great, first time.

So then I cut into my precious Lillestoff Foxes fabric (also from Kitschy Coo). I wanted some stripes for the centre panel but couldn't find anything which would match, anywhere, so I ended up buying this stripe Jersey direct from Lillestoff. (Do they offer free shipping on orders over £40? Um, no, they do not. Their shipping is crazy expensive! Although their fabrics work out slightly cheaper when bought direct, the shipping means it's definitely cheaper to buy from a UK supplier where possible).

I'm so pleased with this dress. I'm not so pleased with the early summer which has arrived this week, meaning it's now too hot to wear it. But next winter I'm going to wear it ALL WINTER LONG.

I love this pattern. It's quick to sew up and gorgeous to wear. It doesn't have a separate skirt piece, which makes it super comfy at the waist. Those princess seams are just so flattering. I've used this princess seam line to pattern hack a swimsuit pattern, and it worked so well. I say it's flattering... I'm not gonna pretend it's so flattering that I'd post a picture of me in the swimsuit for all the internet to see. But it is awesome, you'll just have to take my word for it.